Hockey Talk

A glossary of some of the terms used in hockey.

Back Check – To hinder an opponent heading toward and into the defending zone.
Blue Lines – The pair of one-foot wide blue lines which extend across the ice at a distance of 64 feet from each goal. These lines break up the ice into attacking, neutral and defending zones.

Body Check – Use of the body on an opponent. It is legal when the opponent has possession of the puck or was the last player to have touched it.

Butt-Ending – To hit an opponent with the end of the stick farthest from the blade. It is illegal and calls for a penalty.

Crease – Area directly in front of the netminder. It is four feet wide and eight feet long and marked off by red lines. Offensive players who do not have possession of the puck may not enter.

Deke – To fake an opponent out of position.

Face Off – The dropping of the puck between one player from each team to start or resume play.
Forecheck – To check an opponent in his end of the rink, preventing an offensive rush.

Freezing the puck – To hold the puck against the boards with either the stick or skate to get a stoppage of play.

Goal Line – The red line which runs between the goal posts and extends in both directions to the side boards.

Goal Mouth – The area just in front of the goal and crease lines.

Hat Trick – The scoring of three or more goals by a player in one game.

One-Timer – Hitting the puck directly after receiving a pass. The offensive player takes his backswing while the puck is on its way to him and tries to time his swing with the arrival of the puck.

Penalty Box – The area opposite the team benches where penalized players serve time.

Power Play – A power play occurs when a team has a one -man or two -man advantage because of an opponent’s penalties.

Pulling the goalie – Replacing the goalie with an extra skater. This occurs when a team trails, usually by one goal in the last minute of the game. It is a high -risk attempt to tie the game.

Save – A shot blocked by the netminder, which would have been a goal if not stopped.

Screened Shot – The netminder’s view is blocked by players between he and the shooter.

Slap Shot – Hitting the puck with the blade of the stick after taking a full backswing.

Slot – The area immediately in front of the goal. It is from this zone that most goals are scored and where most furious activity takes place.

Splitting the Defence – The player with the puck attempts to squeeze between the opponent’s defencemen.

Stick Handling – To control the puck along the ice.

Top Shelf – Term used to describe when an offensive player shoots high in an attempt to beat the goalie by putting the puck in the top part of the net.

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